Butterflies at
The Woodland Education Centre

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Ringlet Species:
Distribution:
On the wing:
Larva:
Larval food plants:

General distribution: 		Ringlet. Aphantopus hyperantus.
Almost everywhere on the reserve, prefers damp places.
Mid June to August.
One generation. Larvae over winter until Spring.
Annual Meadow Grass, Cock`s Foot, Couch Grass, Tufted Hair Grass and Wood False Brome.
Throughout a lot of England, Wales and southern Scotland
Large Skipper Species:
Distribution:
On the wing:
Larva:
Larval food plants:

General distribution: 		Large Skipper. Ochlodes venatus
Open grassy areas and around hedges.
June to August.
One generation. Larvae over winter until March.
Cock`s Foot, Hairy Woodrush, False Brome and Slender False Brome.
Lowland England and Wales.
Purple Hairstreak Species:
Distribution:
On the wing:
Larva:
Larval food plants:
General distribution: 		Purple Hairstreak. Quercusia quercus.
Around the oak woods, in the canopy.
July to September.
One generation. The egg over winters and hatches in April.
Common Oak.
Wales, England south of the Wash and localized in Ireland.
Small Copper Species:
Distribution:
On the wing:
Larva:
Larval food plants:

General distribution: 		Small Copper. Lycaena phlaeas
Open grassland or heathland.
April to October.
Two or more generations. Chrysalis overwinters.
Common Sorrel, Sheep’s Sorrel, Dock, Knotgrass and Kidney Vetch.
Throughout the British Isles but not on high ground.
Common Blue (Male)
Male		 Species:
Distribution:
On the wing:
Larva:
Larval food plants:
General distribution: 		Common Blue. Polyommatus icarus.
Almost everywhere on the reserve.
Mid May to June and August to September.
Two generations. The second generation over winter until April.
Bird`s Foot Trefoil, Restharrow, Black Meddick and Clover.
Throughout the British Isles except very high ground.
wpe3.jpg (34444 bytes)
Female		 Species:


Common Blue. Polyommatus icarus.

Details as above.
Holly Blue Species:
Distribution:
On the wing:
Larva:
Larval food plants:

General distribution: 		Holly Blue. Celastrina argiolus.
Almost everywhere on the reserve.
April to May and July to August.
Two generations. The second generation over winter until April.
Holly (spring generation) and Ivy (Autumn generation) also Dogwood and Spindle are sometimes used.
Southern England and locally in Wales, Cumbria, Scotland.

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